Fan attachment for rocking-chairs.



A. A. BRODEUR. PAN ATTACHMENT Ton ROGKING CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED DBC.11, 1908.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

A l ,Ef/0jaar ALGIBIADE A. Bft-UDEUR, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FAN ATTACHMENT FOR RGCKING-CHAIRS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11, 1908. Serial No. 466,937'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ammiano A. BRO- nniin, a citizen of thc United States, residing at l/Torcester, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Fan Attaclnnent for Rocking-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for rocking chairs for supporting a fan and operating it automatically as the chair is rocked.

rThe principal objects of the invention are to provide an improved construction whereby the fan will be given a more natural swinging motion than usually has been the Ease with devices designed for this purpose; to provide a construction in which the rotating parts will be entirely located within the casing out of the way and where they will be protected from dust and the like so that they can be lubricated without forming a wet oily surface which will be visible; to provide an improved means for supporting the device 1n proper position on the chair; to provide f for the convenient adjustment of the fan; and generally to improve constructions of this character.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appearl hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyYA ing drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of a rocker showing a practicable forni of the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the upper part of the attachment on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the lower portion thereof. Fig. et is a plan of a means for clamping the fan. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a means for supporting the bottom of the device showing the rocker in section. Fig. G is a plan of the same showing a portion of the attachment in section, and Fig. 7 is a plan of a bracket for holding the top of the attachment.

In the form shown in the drawings, the device is held by two brackets 10 and 11. The bracket 10 is provided with two llanges l2 and 13, one resting on the top and the other against the side of the rocker and adapted to be secured thereto. This bracket is provided with a hub 14 which is somewhat elevated and has a horizontal passage therethrough. The bracket 11 is of a general Hat form and is adapted to be secured to the bottom of the arm of the chair through perforations 15. This is provided with a hub 1G having a horizontal passage.

The attachment comprises a support or casing 17 having pins 18 and 19 projecting radially therefrom near the top and bottom for entering the passages in the two hubs. lVhen mounted in this position screws 20 on these hubs are tightened up and the casing is thus rmly but removably secured in place on the chair. This casing is shown as cylindrical in forni and it is provided at the bottom with a plug 21 having a central passage therethrough into which extends a projection 22 which may be in the form of a screw as illustrated. Contained within the casing and projecting through the plug is a substantially vertically reciprocable rod 23 having a foot 24; on the end adapted to engage the Hoor as the chair rocks. This rod is provided with a straight slot 25 for receiving the end of the projection 22. This prevents the rod from turning as it reciprocates. The slot terminates in such position as to prevent the rod from dropping out and to hold the foot 24 lifted from the floor when the chair rocks back. On the rod is shown a pin 27 and a spring 2S resting on the pin. At the top this spring bears against a bearing plate 29 and consequently the spring acts normally to force the rod down. This bearing plate is intended to be xed in position as by a screw for example and it is provided with a passage through which the rod passes. In the upper end the rod is provided with a helical groove 3l for receiving a projection 32 extending inwardly from the rotary plate 33 which is supported by the bearing plate 29 preferably by means of bearing balls 34 or other antifriction device. It will be seen, therefore, that as the rod reciprocates it will cause the plate 33 to turn on its axis. This plate has a hub to which is secured a cylinder 36 constituting a member for supporting the fan as will appear hereinafter. This member is provided at the top with another plate 87 fixed to it. A second bearing plate 38 is fixed to the casing above the rotary plate 37 and an anti-friction device 34: may be used between these two plates. In this way the cylinder 36 is prevented from vertical motion independent of the casing but it can freely rotate therein and must do so when the rod 23 is caused to reciprocate. The cylinder or member 36 is provided with ltaltented Mar. 15, 19110.

an upward extension 40 which receives a projection 4l constituting means for supporting the fan. This projection 4l is provided with a flat top 42 for supporting a pair of clamping arms 43. These arms are spaced apart by the fiat top 42 and are secured together by a screw 44 and nut 45. The clamping arms are perforated to receive the screw so that they can be adjusted about the horizontal screw as an axis as indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2. These arms are provided with another screw 4T for clamping them against the end 48 of the stem 49 of the fan 50. The fan is shown as of rectangular form and this is preferred although any other convenient form can be employed. The stein projects centrally from it and the end 48 of the stem is turned at right-angles to the stem so as to locate the fan in position to swing about an axis outside the fan. It will be seen that the fan thus swings in substantially the same way that it would when used by hand, the pivot screw 44 occupying the position of the elbow of the operator. In addition to this it can be adjusted up and down so as to serve its purpose in any desired manner. By this construction all the moving surfaces that have to be lubricated are inclosed in the casing thus avoiding a disagreeable feature of certain forms of fan attachments, and the parts that turn are concealed and prevented from also having a longitudinal motion.

Thilo I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. T herefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the features of construction shown and described, but

That I do claim is z- 1. In a fan attachment for rocking chairs, the combination of a cylindrical casing having two parallel radial horizontal pins projecting therefrom near the top and bottoni respectively, two brackets for supporting said easing, one fixed to the rocker of the chair and the other to the arm thereof, each having a horizontal passage for one of the pins, a non-rotatable reciprocatory rod projecting down from the bottom of the casing and adapted to engage the floor as the chair rocks, a cylinder in the casing, means whereby the reciprocation of the rod will cause the cylinder to turn, and means for supporting a fan secured to the top of said cylinder above the upper end of the casing.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stationary casing having a central passage and a projection extending into said passage, a rod vertically movable through said passage and having a slot for receiving said projections whereby the rod is prevented from turning, said rod also having a helical groove at the upper end thereof, a bearing inside the casing having a passage for said rod, a. spring engaging said bearing and connected with the rod for normally forcing it downward, a rotatable plate in the casing supported by said bearing and having a passage for the rod, and a projection extending into said helical groove, a cylinder supported by said plate and fixed thereto to turn with it, and means on top of said cylinder for holding a fan.

In a device of the character described, the. combination of a casing having a central passage, a rod vertically movable through said passage and having means whereby the rod is prevented from turning, a bearing inside the casing having a passage for said rod, a. rotatable plate supported by said bearing and having a passage for the rod, means for turning the rotatable plate when the rod reciprocates, a cylinder supported by said plate and fixed thereto to turn with it, said casing having a bearing plate above said cylinder, and anti-friction bearings between the cylinder and both of said bearing plates.

4. In an attachment for a rocking chair, the combination of a support adapted to be mounted on the chair, a non-rotatable rod extending-below the bottom of the support and adapted to engage the floor as the chair rocks, a rotatable member carried by the support, said rod and rotatable member having means whereby as the rod reciprocates the rotatable member will be caused to turn, and means for supporting a fan secured on said rod, said support consisting of a hollow casing inclosing the rotatable member and part of the rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALCIBIADE A. BRODEUR. `Witnesses ALBERT E. FAY, C. Fonnnsr `WEssoN- 

